Non-pneumatic tire with double notched rim

ABSTRACT

A non-pneumatic tire assembly includes a tread, a tire fill medium which may be urethane, and a metal membrane which separates the tread from the tire fill medium. The tread, tire fill medium, and metal membrane are secured to a rim with two notches. The rim has one notch for holding the tread and a second notch for holding the tire fill medium and the metal membrane. If a different tread is required, the one positioned on the rim is easily removed and a different tread is placed on the double notched rim.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for wheelsand tires, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses fornon-pneumatic wheels and tires used in off-the-road applications.

BACKGROUND ART

Many types of non-pneumatic tires have been disclosed in the art for usein off-the-road applications. It is often required to change such tires.The reasons for changing tires may include the need for tires withdifferent ride, handling or wear characteristics. Another reason forchanging a tire may be that its tread has worn out.

Current methods for changing tires in the field have disadvantages. Onemethod requires that the tire/rim combination on the associated vehiclebe removed. Then, the tire is taken off the rim. A different tire isthen positioned on the rim so that the new tire/rim combination can beremounted on the associated vehicle. Another common method is totransport different tires already mounted on rims to the field site.Though this method simplifies the field assembly work, it requires thatmore rims, with tires already mounted on them, be transported to thefield site. All such methods are difficult and cumbersome.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for overcomingthe disadvantages mentioned above. Thus, the difficulties inherent inthe prior art are overcome in a way which is simple and efficient, whileproviding better and more advantageous results.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided anon-pneumatic tire assembly which includes a tread and a tire fillmedium which may be urethane, rubber, or some other suitable material. Ametal membrane separates the tread from the tire fill medium. The tread,tire fill medium, and metal membrane are positioned on a double notchedrim. The rim has a first notch for holding the tread and a second notchfor holding the tire fill medium and the metal membrane. If a differenttread is required, the tread on the rim is removed and a different treadis placed on the rim.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided adouble notched rim for use in supporting a tire assembly. The doublenotched rim has a first notch for holding a tread and a second notch forholding both a tire fill medium and a metal membrane. A split ringsecures the tread, tire fill medium, and metal membrane to the doublenotched rim.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided amethod for constructing a non-pneumatic tire assembly. A metal membraneis positioned in a notch on a first side of a double notched rim. Thesecond side of the double notched rim is then placed onto the metalmembrane and a split ring, which secures the assembly, is mounted. Next,a flowable curable material is injected through an injection valve,becoming a tire fill medium when it cures. The split ring and the secondside of the double notched rim are then removed. A tread is thenpositioned in the second notch of the double notched rim. Finally, thesecond side of the double notched rim and the split ring arereconnected.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided amethod for re-treading a non-pneumatic tire assembly. A split ring isremoved and a second side of a double notched rim is detached. The treadis then removed and a different tread is positioned in its place. Thesecond side of the double notched rim is re-attached and finally thesplit ring is remounted.

One advantage of the present invention is that in-the-field tirechanging difficulties are reduced. There is no need to take a tire offof its rim or to transport additional rim/tire combinations to the fieldsite.

Another advantage of the invention is the ease of changing treads. If atire requires different tread characteristics or if the tread is wornout, the sectional design of the invention allows one tread to bereplaced by another tread.

Still another advantage of the invention is the variety of tirecharacteristics that can be constructed. By combining different treadswith different tire fill mediums a wide range of spring rates, rollingresistances, and handling distinctives are possible.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a readingand understanding of the following detailed specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail inthis specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichform a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a non-pneumatic tire assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one-half a non-pneumatic tireassembly of the present invention taken along the lines 1—1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a table of commercial tread compounds and their respectivemoduli @ 100% E;

FIG. 4 is a table of commercial urethane tire fill compounds and some oftheir characteristics.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view like FIG. 2 showing thenotches of the double notched rim;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 2 showing the first rimmember;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 6 showing the metal membranepositioned in the second notch of the first rim member;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 7 showing the metal membranepositioned in the second notches of the first and second rim members;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 8 showing the metal membraneand the tire fill medium positioned in the second notch of the first rimmember;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 9 showing the metalmembrane, the tire fill medium, and the tread positioned on the firstrim member;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 10 showing the metalmembrane, the tire fill medium, and the tread positioned between thefirst and second rim members; and,

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 6 showing the first rimmember;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the membrane and the treadpositioned on the first rim member prior to the addition of the tirefill medium; and,

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view like FIG. 11 showing the membrane, thetire fill medium, and the tread positioned between the first and secondrim members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not forpurposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a non-pneumatic tireassembly 10. The embodiment illustrated is a size 10.00-20 truck tireassembly but the invention is applicable to passenger cars, off-the-roadvehicles, and other applications as well.

The non-pneumatic tire assembly 10 includes a tread 20 a tire fillmedium 30 and a double notched rim 40. The tread 20 has a ground surface22 for contacting the ground or an associated roadway (not shown). Thetread 20 is made with two tread slots 23 and 24 and with two treadprojections 25 and 26. The tread slots 23, 24 and tread projections 25,26 attach the tread 20 to the double notched rim 40. FIG. 3 shows atable of commercial tread compounds and their respective moduli @ 100%E. Any of these commercial tread compounds may be used in thisembodiment, though other tread compounds may also be used.

With reference to FIG. 2, a tire fill medium 30 is formed of urethane;however, it may also be formed of other materials. FIG. 4 shows a tableof commercial urethane tire fill compounds and some of theircharacteristics. Any of these commercial urethane compounds may be usedin this embodiment, though other tire fill medium materials may also beused. Referring again to FIG. 2, valve stem 31 has an injection valve32. The injection valve 32 can be of any type known in the art.Injection valve 32 is opened so that urethane can be injected throughvalve stem 31. Valve stem 33 has a pressure valve 34. The pressure valve34 can be of any type known in the art. A pressure sensor (not shown) isattached to valve stem 33 and pressure valve 34 is opened so that thepressure of the tire fill medium 30 can be sensed. The pressure of thetire fill medium is used to determine when a sufficient amount ofurethane or other material has been injected. A membrane 36 is placedbetween the tire fill medium 30 and the tread 20 forming a boundary forthe tire fill medium 30 as it is injected. The membrane 36 also preventsunwanted bonding between the tire fill medium 30 and the tread 20. Inthis embodiment the membrane 36 is made of metal but other materials mayalso be used.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the double notched rim 40 has afirst rim member 50, a second rim member 60, a split ring 42, and aconnection disc 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection disc 70 has alarge opening 72 and a plurality of holes 74 for attaching thenon-pneumatic tire assembly 10 to an associated vehicle (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 5, the first rim member 50 has a support base 52having a first end 51 and a second end 53. Extending from the first end51 of the support base 52 is a notch column 54 which has a first arm 55and a second arm 56. The first arm 55, notch column 54, and second arm56 combine to form first notch 57. The second arm 56, notch column 54,and support base 52 combine to form second notch 58. The second rimmember 60 has a notch column 62 with a first arm 64 and a second arm 66.The first arm 64, notch column 62, and second arm 66 combine to formfirst notch 65. The second arm 66, notch column 62, and support base 52of the first rim member 50 combine to form second notch 67.

One method of constructing a non-pneumatic tire assembly is illustratedin FIG. 6 and utilizes a first rim member 50. A connection disc (notshown) is connected to the first rim member 70 in FIGS. 1 and 2, but itis not shown in the following figures to help clarify and simplified thediscussion. As shown in FIG. 7, a membrane 36 made of metal ispositioned into the second notch 58 of notch column 54. As shown in FIG.8, second rim member 60 is placed such that membrane 36 is positionedinto the second notch 67 of notch column 62. Next, a split ring 42 issecured to the second end 53 of support base 52 using split ring groove59. This construction creates notch cavity 68. Injection valve 32 isopened and a flowable curable material is injected through valve stem31, filling notch cavity 68. As the flowable curable material isinjected, membrane 36 is forced against second arm 56 and second arm 66creating a sealing boundary for the flowable curable material. Pressurevalve 34 is used in determining that the proper amount of flowablecurable material has been injected. The flowable curable material curesinside notch cavity 68 becoming the tire fill medium 30 shown in FIGS. 2and 9.

FIG. 9 shows the tire fill medium 30 and the membrane 36 positioned onthe support base 52 of first rim member 50 within second notch 58. Thesecond rim member 60 and split ring 42, shown in FIG. 8, have beenremoved. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, a tread 20 is positioned such thattread slot 23 receives first arm 55 and first notch 57 receives treadprojection 25. Referring now to FIG. 11, second rim member 60 is placedonto tread 20 such that tread slot 24 receives first arm 64 and firstnotch 65 receives tread projection 26. Then the split ring 42 ismounted.

For another method of constructing a non-pneumatic tire assembly, FIG.12 shows a first rim member 50. As shown in FIG. 13, a tread 20 ispositioned such that tread slot 23 receives first arm 55 and first notch57 receives tread projection 25. Next, a membrane 36 is positioned intothe second notch 58 of notch column 54. For this embodiment, themembrane 36 is made of metal however, it may also be formed of anothermaterial. It is also possible, depending on the material to be used forthe tire fill medium, to refrain from using a membrane.

As shown in FIG. 14, second rim member 60 is placed such that membrane36 is positioned into the second notch 67 of notch column 62 and suchthat tread slot 24 receives first arm 64 and first notch 65 receivestread projection 26. Next, a split ring 42 is secured to the second end53 of support base 52 using split ring groove 59. This constructioncreates notch cavity 68. Injection valve 32 is opened and a flowablecurable material is injected through valve stem 31, filling notch cavity68. As the flowable curable material is injected, membrane 36 is forcedagainst second arm 56, first side 27 of the tread 20, and second arm 66creating a sealing boundary for the flowable curable material. If amembrane is not used, second arm 56, first side 27 of the tread 20, andsecond arm 66 form a sealing boundary for the flowable curable material.Pressure valve 34 is used in determining that the proper amount offlowable curable material has been injected. The flowable curablematerial cures inside notch cavity 68 becoming the tire fill medium 30.

The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods mayincorporate changes and modifications without departing from the generalscope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope ofthe appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:
 1. A rimassembly (40) adapted for use in supporting an associated tire fillmedium (30) and an associated tread (20) in a non-pneumatic tireassembly (10), wherein said tread has a ground engaging surface (22)extending between spaced first and second sides, and wherein said tirefill medium is radially inward of said tread and has spaced first andsecond sides, said rim assembly being characterized by: a first rimmember (50) having a transversely extending support base (52) includingspaced first and second ends (51, 53) and a notch column (54) radiallyextending from said first end (51) of said support base, said notchcolumn having a first notch (57) adapted to hold said first side of saidassociated tread and a second notch (58) adapted to hold said first sideof said associated tire fill medium; a second rim member (60) having asecond notch column (62), said second notch column having a first notch(65) adapted to hold said second side of said associated tread and asecond notch (67) adapted to hold said second side of said associatedtire fill medium; securing means for selectively securing said secondrim member in predetermined relationship to said first rim member, saidsecuring means selectively extending between said second rim member andsaid second end (53) of said support base of said first rim member; and,connecting means extending from a radially inward surface of saidsupport base, said connecting means being adapted to connect said firstrim member to an associated vehicle.
 2. The rim assembly of claim 1wherein said support base has a groove (59) at said second end andwherein said securing means is a split ring (42), said split ring beingreceived in said groove.
 3. The rim assembly of claim 1 wherein saidconnecting means is a connection disc (70) having a plurality of holes(72) therein.
 4. The rim assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-pneumatictire assembly further includes a metal membrane (36) positioned betweenthe tread and said tire fill medium.
 5. The rim assembly of claim 1further characterized in that said first rim member includes aninjection valve (32) for injecting said tire fill medium.
 6. Anon-pneumatic tire and rim assembly (10) including a tread (20) having aground engaging surface (22) extending between spaced first and secondsides, a tire fill medium (30) having spaced first and second sides, anda rim assembly (40), said tread and said fill material being supportedby said rim assembly, the tire assembly characterized by: said firstside of said tread having a first tread projection (25) and said secondside of said tread having a second tread projection (26); and, said rimassembly including a first rim member (50) having a transverselyextending support base (52) including spaced first and second ends (51,53) and a notch column (54) radially extending from said first end (51)of said support base, said notch column having a first notch (57) and asecond notch (58) therein, said first tread projection being received insaid first notch (57) and said first side of said tire fill medium beingreceived in said second notch (58), a second rim member (60) having asecond notch column (62), said second notch column having a first notch(65) and a second notch (67) therein, said second tread projection beingreceived in said first notch (65) and said second side of said tire fillmedium being received in said second notch (67), securing means forselectively securing said second rim member in predeterminedrelationship to said first rim member, said securing means selectivelyextending between said second rim member and said second end (53) ofsaid support base of said first rim member, and connecting meansextending from a radially inward surface of said support base, saidconnecting means being adapted to connect said first rim member to anassociated vehicle.
 7. The non-pneumatic tire and rim assembly of claim6 further characterized by: a membrane (36) positioned between saidtread and said tire fill medium.
 8. The non-pneumatic tire and rimassembly of claim 7 wherein said membrane is made of metal.
 9. Thenon-pneumatic tire and rim assembly of claim 6 wherein said tread isselectively replaceable with a second associated tread.
 10. Thenon-pneumatic tire and rim assembly of claim 6 further characterized by:said tire fill medium being a flowable curable material; and, said firstrim member including an injection valve (32) for injecting said tirefill medium and a pressure valve (34) for measuring a pressure of saidtire fill medium.
 11. A method for constructing a non-pneumatic tireassembly (10) including a tread (20) having a ground engaging surface(22) extending between spaced first and second sides, a tire fill medium(30) having spaced first and second sides, and a rim (40), said treadand said fill material being supported by said rim, the methodcharacterized by the steps of: providing said first side of said treadwith a first tread projection (25) and said second side of said treadwith a second tread projection (26); providing a first rim member (50)having a support base (52) and a notch column (54) radially extendingfrom a first end (51) of said support base, said notch column having afirst notch (57) and a second notch (58) therein; providing a second rimmember (60) having a second notch column (62), said second notch columnhaving a first notch (65) and a second notch (67) therein; providingsecuring means for securing said first side of said tread and said firstside of said tire fill medium to said first rim member and said secondside of said tread and said second side of said tire fill medium to saidsecond rim member; providing connecting means for connecting said firstrim member to an associated vehicle; providing said first rim memberwith an injection valve (32); positioning said first tread projectioninto said first notch of said first rim member; positioning said secondtread projection into said first notch of said second notch column;engaging said securing means after said steps of positioning said firstand second tread projections to create a notch cavity (68) between saidtread and said support base; and, injecting a flowable material intosaid notch cavity through said injection valve.
 12. The method of claim11 further characterized by the step of: inserting a membrane (36) intosaid second notch of said first rim member and said second notch of saidsecond rim member before said step of engaging said securing means. 13.The method of claim 12 wherein said flowable material is curable, themethod further comprising the step of: allowing said flowable materialto cure.
 14. A method for re-treading a non-pneumatic tire and rimassembly (10) with a second associated tread, the non-pneumatic tireassembly including a first tread (20) having a ground engaging surface(22) extending between spaced first and second sides, a tire fill medium(30) having spaced first and second sides, and a rim assembly (40), saidtread and said fill material being supported by said rim assembly, themethod characterized by the steps of: providing said first side of saidtread with a first tread projection (25) and said second side of saidtread with a second tread projection (26); providing said rim assemblywith a first rim member (50) having a transversely extending supportbase (52) having first and second spaced ends (51, 53) and a notchcolumn (54) radially extending from said first end (51) of said supportbase, said notch column having a first notch (57) and a second notch(58) therein; a second rim member (60) having a second notch column(62), said second notch column having a first notch (65) and a secondnotch (67) therein; and securing means for selectively securing saidsecond rim member in a predetermined relationship to said first rimmember, said securing means selectively extending between said secondrim member and said second end (53) of said support base of said firstrim member wherein said first tread projection (25) is received in saidfirst notch (57) of said first rim member and said second treadprojection (26) is received in said first notch (65) of said second rimmember; removing said securing means from between said second rim memberand said first rim member; detaching said second rim member from saidfirst tread after said step of removing said securing means; removingsaid first tread from said first rim member; positioning said associatedsecond tread into said first notch of said first rim member; placingsaid second rim member onto said associated second tread, said treadbeing positioned into said first notch of said second rim; and,replacing said securing means.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein thenon-pneumatic tire assembly also includes a metal membrane fitting insaid second notch of said first rim member and said second notch of saidsecond rim member.
 16. A method for constructing a non-pneumatic tireand rim assembly (10) including a tread (20) having a ground engagingsurface (22) extending between spaced first and second sides, a tirefill medium (30) having spaced first and second sides, and a rim (40),said tread and said fill material being supported by said rim, themethod characterized by the steps of: providing a first rim member (50)having a transversely extending support base (52) having first andsecond spaced ends (51, 53) and a notch column (54) radially extendingfrom said first end (51) of said support base, said notch column havinga first notch (57) and a second notch (58) therein; providing a secondrim member (60) having a second notch column (62), said second notchcolumn having a first notch (65) and a second notch (67) therein;providing said first rim member with an injection valve (32); insertinga membrane (36) into said second notch of said first rim member; placingsaid second rim member onto said membrane, said membrane beingpositioned into said second notch of said second rim member; providing asplit ring (42) to hold said first rim member, said second rim memberand said membrane in a predetermined relative position; positioning saidsplit ring to extend between said second rim member and said second endof said support base of said first rim member; injecting a flowablecurable material through said injection valve after said split ring ispositioned; allowing said flowable material to cure; removing said splitring after said flowable material is cured; providing said first side ofsaid tread with a first tread projection (25) and said second side ofsaid tread with a second tread projection (26); positioning said firsttread projection into said first notch of said first rim member aftersaid split ring is removed; positioning said second tread projectioninto said first notch of said second notch column after said split ringis removed; and, re-mounting said split ring.